The third shuttle, Intrepid, takes off on its first flight! Mitster pilots the craft up to the KSS. It’s time for a crew rotation! Unusually, one shuttle will fly up and take the crew that’s returning, and a second will launch and remain docked to the station. This will allow for evacuations in case of emergencies! The plan is to cycle shuttles docked to the KSS every time there is a crew rotation.

After the Intrepid docks with the station, Endeavor blasts off, piloted by Jeb!

For the first time, two shuttles are docked at the KSS!

Not for long though… Mitster stays behind to keep an eye on the station, while Jeb, Orlas, Robart, and Samner head back to Kerbin! Endeavor will remain docked at the station.

After some slight adjustments to Adventure’s wing alignment to correct the rollimg/control issues the craft was having, the craft takes off again!

This time, Jeb, Bill, and Bob head up – the mission is solely to test Adventure’s systems before construction of additional Crew Shuttles to service the KSS! This will be the first flight with the craft’s new solar panels – so far, they don’t seem to be affecting aerodynamics.

“OK – the Station is right where it should be! Heading in to dock!” -Jeb

Jeb pilots the Adventure closer, and closer to the Space Station!

Almost there…

Success! Adventure makes a good seal with Docking Port 1. Everyone heads over to the station to check things out!

The Crew Shuttle Adventure blasts off from the Space Center! Mitster and Jeb both pilot the craft. This will be a mission of many “firsts”:the first orbital mission of the Crew Shuttle, the first docking with the Space Station, and the first crewed re-entry of the shuttle!

Because the Crew Shuttle doesn’t have any solar or other power generation methods, it can’t remain in orbit for too long before docking. Future upgrades will likely include better onboard power.

Adventure achieves orbit, and manuevers to the KSS! Meanwhile on Kerbin, sea vessels recover the orbital launch vehicle. As before, the craft is recovered for almost all of its construction costs!

Adventure docks with the KSS! The two crews say hello, then the shuttle detaches. Everyone is a bit nervous.. this is the first time a crewed shuttle will re-enter Kerbin’s atmosphere!

Rentry goes very well… But as the craft gets close to landing, it starts rotating strangely – tests will need to be done to determine why the craft partially lost control! Thankfully Mitster is able to correct for the rotation.

Adventure sets down at the space center! While the mission wasn’t perfect, it was a success!